AMC top civilian sees new technology at Rock Island Arsenal-JMTC

Col. James O. Fly, Jr (left middle), commander RIA-JMTC, shows John B. Nerger (right middle), Executive Deputy to the Commanding General of the Army Material Command, the new Friction Stir Welder at RIA-JMTC.

Col. James O. Fly, Jr (left), commander RIA-JMTC, shows John B. Nerger (right), Executive Deputy to the Commanding General of the Army Material Command, shock housing for a M1A1 Abrams tank that is being produced at Rock Island Arsenal Joint...

Col. James O. Fly, Jr (left), commander RIA-JMTC, shows John B. Nerger (middle), Executive Deputy to the Commanding General of the Army Material Command, the new robotic welder at RIA-JMTC.

Col. James O. Fly, Jr (left middle), commander RIA-JMTC, shows John B. Nerger (right middle), Executive Deputy to the Commanding General of the Army Material Command, the new Friction Stir Welder at RIA-JMTC.

Col. James O. Fly, Jr (left), commander RIA-JMTC, shows John B. Nerger (right), Executive Deputy to the Commanding General of the Army Material Command, shock housing for a M1A1 Abrams tank that is being produced at Rock Island Arsenal Joint...

Col. James O. Fly, Jr (left), commander RIA-JMTC, shows John B. Nerger (middle), Executive Deputy to the Commanding General of the Army Material Command, the new robotic welder at RIA-JMTC.

The Army Materiel Command's top civilian visited the Department of Defense's only vertically integrated metal manufacturer on Thursday. John B. Nerger, Executive Deputy to the Commanding General of the Army Material Command, took a one hour tour through the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center.

This was Nerger's first visit to RIA-JMTC assuming his role as the top executive at AMC in May 2011. His tour started at the Army's only active foundry where Col. James O. Fly, Jr, commander RIA-JMTC, showed how the Arsenal can take raw scrap metal and make new parts to support Army and Joint products.

Along the route, Nerger also saw new technology that is being infused into the Arsenal. The tour made a quick stop by the newly installed Friction Stir Welder machine, which is going to be coming online at the start of next year with partner H.F. Webster. In addition, Col. Fly showed him the new robotic welder that will streamline difficult large welds at the Arsenal.

The U.S. Army Materiel Command is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness -- technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection, and sustainment -- to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, communicates with it, or eats it, AMC provides it.